Monday, February 21, 2011

A Fair Question

A brave and selfless teacher from Wauwatosa speaks truth to power and ups the ante by bringing Scott Walker's kid into the, ahem, debate:

Michael Mulvey, a high school algebra teacher in Wauwatosa — the town Walker represented for a decade in the Legislature here — lapped the circular balcony over the main floor with a sign that read, “Scott, I taught your son algebra. My son just turned 5. Does he deserve a good education?”

I suppose that's a fair question. As a parent, Mulvey has every right to pursue a high quality education for his son. If Walker gets by with forcing teachers to help fund their own pensions, how will Mulvey ever afford the tuition at Pius XI High School?

Meanwhile, Ann Althouse reports that Madison schools will be closed for the 4th consecutive day. Remember, everyone, it's all about the children.

Mark,if that is what you meant and that is what you believe, I guess you are entitled to your opinion. I can't see into peoples minds but I think most people who send their children to Catholic schools, teachers and non-teachers alike, would disagree with you. I would suggest that most of the people I know who send their children to Catholic schools do so out of a sense of familial tradition, and for the moral and cultural assimilation that they believe Catholic schools provide. And they do this at great personal sacrifice. In the suburbs of Chicago, in particular, the public schools are usually rated higher, academically, than the Catholic schools. But many people, myself included, send their children to the Catholic schools.

As I said, you are entitled to your opinion, but if you really believe folks are sending their children to Catholic schools solely for educational purposes, I think you are sorely mistaken. Honestly, I would think you would know this better than most folks.

Mark, I am still unclear on your point. This teacher doesn't send his kid to a Catholic, but he could and he might. And if he did...? What? He is a bad person? A hypocrite? You said the point of your 'joke' is that those who ought to know best how awesome a government school education is are disproportionately likely to send their kids to private schools. (I think that is what 'Yep' means). So you seem to be ascribing motive to another person's potential actions. So do you agree with my point that there are many reasons that someone who is Catholic would send their child to Catholic parochial schools? If yep, then please contextualize your 'joke' because I still don't get it.Regards,Rich